Sanitary shield for telephone-transmitters.



Patented Feb. 25. I902.

. J. B. TAUVERUN.

SANITARY SHIELD FUR TELEPHONE TRANSMITTEBS. (Application filed. May 18, 1501.)

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, pliance UNITED S A ES PATENT OFFICE.

JEAN l3. TAUVERON, OF YORK, N. Y.

SANITA R Y SHIELD FOR TELEPHONE-TRANSMITTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,041, dated February 25, 1902.

Application filed May 18, 1901. Serial No. 60,869. on model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEAN B. YTAUVERON, a citizen of France, and aresident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Sanitary Shield for Telephone-Transmitters and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to .mouthpieces for telephones,ear-trumpets,speaking-tubes, and similar devices, and more particularly to a cover or diaphragm which may be readily applied to and detached from the said instruments and by which the transmissionof infectious diseases and the propagation of bacilli may be prevented; and it has for its object the provision of an appliance of the kind set forth, inexpensive to manufacture, simple and effective for the purpose, and easy and quick in its application.

To attain the desired end, this my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and operation of parts herein set forth.

In order to enable my invention to befully understood, I will proceed to explain the same by reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my sanitary shield in position for use. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a View of my shield with the wrapper extended, and Fig. 41s a side view of my apin a sealed relation.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the views. 1

The-use of telephone-transmitters or like articles, and especially in public places, has been considered objectionable on account of the danger of contamination which exists by reason of the presence of disease germs which attach themselves to the mouthpiece after being exhaled from the breath of those using the instrument. I have therefore deemed it desirable to produce at a low cost for man ufacture a simple and effective sealed guard, cover, or shield which will not interfere with the use of a telephone-transmitter, speakingtube, or similar device and which may be readily applied thereto and disengaged therefrom and may be thrown away after use and by'which a superior appliance may be provided for protecting the monthpieces of telephones, speaking-tubes and the like from being contaminated by the germs exhaled from persons affected by contagious diseases,

and thus guarding against the dissemination I of disease germs when they have been collected through the promiscuous use of such mouth pieces,and I have therefore constructed according to my invention an organization of the class described embodying the preferred construction of parts and their mutual relationship, combination, arrangement, and organization in a composite body or structure, as hereinafter described.

Referring particularly to the drawings, A denotes my diaphragm holder or support, preferably constructed of stiffened heavy paper or cardboard and provided with engaging devices, as the preferably folding arms or flaps which fit over the mouthpiece to be used, as A, and by means of which my diaphraghm B may be held in position over said mouthpiece O. l

It will be seen that my device may be easily fitted to any and all kinds of mouthpieces of the various instruments of the kind now in use, and also readily applied to and detached from the same.

The support is provided with a preferably in the present in round central orifice a, stance about the size of the transmitter-mouthpiece.

My diaphragm Bis ordinarily made of very channel of the thin and moisture-proof paper pasted or otherwise secured to and preferably under the support A. The diaphragm not only lies behind or under the holder or support A and arms or flaps A, but is also extended, as at B, forming a wrapper or cover which may be utilized to be wrapped around the support A and folded arms or flaps A when my appliance is not required for use, thus keeping the said diaphragm always clean and free from any impurities. When the parts are in this position, my device may be carried in the pocket without getting soiled. The end of the wrapper B may be provided with mucilage or like adhesive preparation B by means of which it may be pasted or otherwise secured to the body of the wrapper, as shown in Fig. 4, when my device is manufactured ready for sale in order to provide a seal for the same, so that the user thereof may beassured of its freshness.

It is manifest that various omissions of some particulars could be made without materially affecting the essential features of my invention or the operation of the remaining parts, and I do not therefore wish to be limited to the specific structural details of the organization herein set forth.

It is nowgenerallyad mitted that the germs of contagious or infectious diseases may be transmitted from one person to another by the use of instruments that are brought into contact with the mouth or adjacent to the same, as by the use promiscuously of the same mouthpiece of telephone-transmitters, speaking-tubes, and similar devices. The use of my sanitary shield will avoid the danger of contagion should there be present upon or within the portions of the instrument which are brought into contact with the mouth any of the various forms of bacilli which comm u.- nicate diseaseas, for instance, those producing tuberculosis and other pulmonary diseases.

In operation the seal B of my hygienic appliance or sanitary shield is broken and the wrapper B loosened and preferably torn off and the arms or flaps A opened and placed behind the mouthpiece of the telephone-transmitter O or the like, so that the same will be covered by the diaphragm B, the said diaphragm being thus held in position while speaking. The said diaphragm B forms a sound-conducting wall which will not interfere with the entrance of the sound waves into the mouthpiece, while at the same time said mouthpiece is completely covered and protected from contamination by disease germs.

My shield may be manufactured so cheaply that the same may be thrown away after being used once, and by reason of my sealing means, not only may any one upon buying my sanitary shield be assured that the same has never been used before, but my shield being compact in form, is also adapted to be carried in the pocket without soiling. 7

As it is evident that many changes in the construction, form, proportion, and relative arrangement of parts might be resorted to without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention, I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, but that such changes and equivalents may be substituted therefor and that What I claim as my invention is- 1. Asanitaryshield formouthpieces of telephones and the like, comprisingadiaphragm, a diaphragm holder or support provided with a continuation forming a wrapper or cover, and means forholding the appliance normally in a sealed relation.

2. A sanitary shield for mouthpieces of telephones and the like, comprisingadiaphragm, and a diaphragm holder or support provided With arms or flaps to engage the said mouthpiece, and also provided with a continuation forming a wrapper or cover for the whole.

3. Asanitary shield for mouthpieces of telephones and the like, comprisinga diaphragm, and a diaphragm holder or support provided with a continuation forming a wrapper or cover for the whole, and means for holding the appliance normally in a sealed relation.

4.-. A shield for mouthpieces of telephones and the like, comprising a diaphragm B, a diaphragm holder or support A, provided with an orifice of a size approximately that of the mouthpiece, and also with folding arms or flaps A, the said diaphragm-holder being provided with a continuation forming a cover or wrapper.

5. A shield or mouthpiece for telephones and the like, comprising a diaphragm B, a diaphragm holder or support A, provided with an orifice of a size approximately that of the mouthpiece, and also with folding arms or flaps A, the said diaphragm-holder being provided with a continuation forming a cover or wrapper B, and with sealing means 13 In testimony of the foregoing specification I do hereby sign the same in the city of New York, county and State of New York, this 15th day of May, A. D. 1901.

JEAN B. TAUVERON.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. WALL, J. ODELL FOWLER, Jr. 

